Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I raise the issue of the potential establishment of a transport police.  The Leader will be aware of a number of unsavoury incidents on the northside DART line.  A recent stabbing incident happened between Killester and Harmonstown stations.  Earlier this year a DART service was stalled while a gang of youths tried to spray-paint the outside of the carriage between Bayside and Howth Junction stations.  There are ongoing vandalism and other issues at Clongriffin station.  The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, has said he is open to the idea of having a transport police.  I ask the Leader to facilitate a debate on the potential of establishing such a force from within An Garda Síochána to ensure that those who work on, and use, our train services feel safe and secure as they go about their daily business.  Those who believe in public transport, as I do, need to feel safe and secure while accessing that service.

This House should react positively to the initiatives taken by Councillor Rebecca Moynihan on Dublin City Council and Councillor Deirdre Kingston on Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.  They have secured funding to roll out pilot schemes to provide free sanitary products in their council areas.  An initiative by Councillor Moynihan on Dublin City Council was successful a number of months ago.  At last night's Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council budget meeting, Councillor Kingston secured funding for a pilot scheme to provide free sanitary products in libraries.  A Plan International Ireland survey has found that more than 50% of girls aged from 12 to 19 are unable to afford sanitary products.  We could tackle period poverty if we were to provide free products in our primary and secondary schools.  It is not a radical proposal; it has been done in Scotland.  We believe it would cost about €5 million.  It would be useful to have a debate on period poverty in the House and I call on the Leader to facilitate that.